As a nation state, Italy has emerged only in 1871. Until then the country was politically divided into a large number of independant cities, provinces and islands. The currently available evidences point out to a dominant Etruscan, Greek and Roman cultural influence on today's Italians.

There is a story in our family that one of our relatives from Italy, a 2xgreat uncle, was a hero in the Ethiopian War, and "rode in a parade in Rome with the Queen." I believe this was the first of the two wars, and King Victor Emanuelle was in leadership. My uncle's name was George (prob. Giorgio) Randazzo. The family was from Santa Margherita di Belice, now in Sicily.

I'd like to verify (or not) the story, but so far nothing has turned up on the internet under his name. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might look? I don't speak or read Italian, so if there are some good historical or military websites, hopefully they can be translated.

Hello,
if your Giorgio Randazzo was born in Santa Margherita Belice between 1873 and 1902, his military record can be found at Archivio di Stato di Agrigento.
The people working there are very nice and professional, I have dealt with them once.
Since the war in Ethiopia was on 1935, maybe he was born later, in this case you need to contact the following address

Scarlett227I noticed on your signature line, you are searching for D'Auria (Ariano). Do you mean Ariano (di Puglia) Irpino? My grandmother's cousin Angela married an Eugenio d'Auria, they were from Ariano di Puglia.